Solution must be found to ‘grave’ Syrian crisis

Publication Date: 2013-08-22

Following reports of chemical weapons attack, Apostolic nuncio to Damascus says Syrians can endure the war no longer

A political solution to Syria’s ‘grave crisis’ must be found, the Apostolic nuncio in Damascus has said, as the UK and other nations call for an international response to allegations that chemical weapons were used in an attack, which is reported to have killed hundreds of people, on Wednesday.

Responding to the reports, and shocking television footage of the attack’s aftermath, Archbishop Mario Zenari called for an end to the Syrian conflict, saying it was necessary to ‘find a solution to the crisis.’

“This is truly a shock for the international community,” Archbishop Zenari (above) said. “People here are tired and I think they are calling on the international community saying: ‘help, so this war can end immediately. We are tired of this war we can’t endure it any longer. It’s not possible to continue in this way.’”

Opposition activists to President Bashar al-Assad’s government said that more than 1000 people were killed after the ruling party’s forces launched rockets with toxic agents into the Damascus suburbs in the Ghouta region early on Wednesday.

The Syrian government has denied the allegations, describing them as ‘illogical and fabricated.’

The UK, France and Turkey are leading calls for a tough international response to the alleged chemical weapons attack while the UK is also calling for UN weapons inspectors already in Syria to be granted access as a matter of urgency.

Tens of thousands of people have died in Syria’s civil war, which began as part of the wider Arab Spring movement in the Middle East and in protest against President Assad’s government.

Archbishop Zenari said that Syrians are crying for greater help from the international community.

“I think this call is coming from the Syrians who want a greater effort from the international community to find a political solution to the grave crisis,” the archbishop said.